Recommendations and Conclusions from conferences

There has been a widespread view amongst participants at UKOTCF conferences that they should strive to reach some clear conclusions and recommendations on the topics addressed (these topics resulting from wide consultations). At the 2015 conference, these were grouped into recommendations to UKOT/CD Governments, UK Government, NGOs, Other funding bodies, Private Sector & Utilities, and under the following topics: Environmental Education and Awareness; Renewable Energy; International Agreements; Using informed decision making to manage development sustainably, including Environmental Impact Assessments; Stakeholder and User Stewardship; Legislative Framework; Economic and Intrinsic Value of Sustainable Use: Invasive species; Biodiversity data; other aspects of Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Resources; Capacity and resource issues; UKOTCF and its Regional Working Groups; and UKOTCF roles. See full conclusions and recommendations.

As a way of assisting UK Government, with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) leading, each of the recommendations directed towards them were divided into short, medium and long-term gains. Some ways in which the UK Government would better address some of the needs of the UKOTs in the short-term with little or no investment, have already been implemented, such as the removal of environmental education as an ineligible project activity from the Darwin Plus funding scheme.

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Defra, has asked us to make UKOTs/CDs aware of education packs recently produced on illegal wildlife trade by Tale2Tail and WWF-UK and . At UKOTCF’s suggestion following this request, Defra/WWF have arranged for their packages to be available without the previous complex application procedures. Whilst the examples do not relate directly to UKOTs/CDs and illegal wildlife trade, the general issues are addressed and the materials well made.

A site in the Adopt a Home for Wildlife initiative of UKOTCF & Montserrat National Trust is also an experimental location for reintroduction of 'mountain chicken' frogs - whose survival is threatened by an introduced fungus. Our video describes testing the experimental manipulation of conditions to help the frogs overcome this.

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Much of the work done by the House of Commons and the House of Lords is done by select committees, which examine issues in detail, from government policy to proposed new laws. The Committees which have taken an in-depth look at UK Overseas Territories are mainly the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Environmental Audit Committee. Read more

Influencing policy-makers at a European Union level has been important for promoting conservation & sound environmental management in the UKOTs. Our work has included submissions to formal inquiries & consultations, as well as less formal awareness-raising activities & liaison with key contacts. The has been some success in this area with regards to the EU-funded BEST Scheme which has funded a variety of projects in the UKOTs. Read more

Responding to, and making our network aware of, UK Government consultations has been an ongoing role. Here we provide a selection of these. Most recently, was the fifth UK National Report to the Conferences of the Parties (COP) on the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, compiled by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee on behalf of UK Government. Read more

A country nominates World Heritage Sites from a Tentative List. This list includes outstanding natural & cultural sites. At the end of March 2011, Dr Mike Pienkowski sat on the expert panel to update the UK Tentative List. Following the recommendations of the expert panel, DCMS Minister for Tourism and Heritage, John Penrose MP, announced that UK Government was to include three UKOT sites. Read more>

Through building contacts with MPs with an interest in the UKOTs & CDs, we have organised receptions at the Commonwealth Parliament Association in Westminster Hall, at the invitation of Andrew Rosindell MP, Chair of the APPG on Overseas Territories. These events are an opportunity to engage with MPs & peers on issues in the UKOTs but also to raise the profile of the latter & their global biodiversity importance. Read more

There are limited opportunities for the UKOTs to be represented in UK Parliament, yet many decision are made on their behalf in Westminster. Therefore, we have worked with the APPG for Biodiversity (as well as other APPGs) to provide advice & assistance in organising of several meetings including a wider range of stakeholders on issues such as invasive species & marine protected areas in the House of Commons. Read

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This page allows you to make one-off donations or set up a regular subscription to support ongoing conservation efforts across the UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. To find our more about how donations are used read more

Superb wetlands where the land meets the sea: A superb complex of natural coral reefs, tidal flats, mangroves and marshlands provide a haven for wildlife, and the natural basis of fisheries and tourism. The islands provide a home for at least 14 unique plants, reptiles (including the rock iguana), and an unknown number of invertebrates, as well as the vulnerable reddish egret and West Indian whistling duck. Read more

The Caribbean's Emerald Isle: Despite its small size, Montserrat supports at least 132 tree species, 59 species of birds and 13 mammals. The Montserrat oriole is found nowhere else. Also restricted to Montserrat are the galliwasp and anole. The endangered 'mountain chicken' (a frog) is found only on Montserrat and Dominica. Several other species are restricted to Montserrat and some nearby islands. Read More